ABC News says FCC is carrying out intimidation campaign to shape coverage

What the report says

Al Jazeera, with Reuters, reported that ABC has accused the United States Federal Communications Commission of using possible broadcast licence revocations to pressure news organizations over coverage critical of President Donald Trump. In a Thursday court filing, the Disney-owned broadcaster pointed to the FCC’s early review of eight ABC stations, whose licences were not scheduled for renewal until October 2028.

According to the report, ABC argued that the unusual early review sends a message to other media companies that they could face consequences if their coverage conflicts with the administration’s preferred framing. The FCC, led by Chair Brendan Carr, said the review was tied to an inquiry into whether ABC’s diversity policies involved unlawful discrimination. Al Jazeera reported that the agency’s April move came shortly after Trump called for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

The dispute is part of a wider conflict between the Trump administration and major news outlets. Al Jazeera cited Trump’s lawsuits against the BBC, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as recently withdrawn Justice Department subpoenas seeking testimony from New York Times journalists about reporting on a new Air Force One plane. Press freedom advocates have warned that legal and regulatory pressure can chill reporting protected by the First Amendment.

The case matters because US broadcasters depend on FCC licences to operate over public airwaves, giving the regulator significant leverage. ABC contends that the administration is trying to deter independent coverage; the FCC’s stated position is that it is examining potential legal violations in company policies.